• Starting a Food Business?
• HACCP
• Training
• Topics of Interest
• Approved Food Establishments
• Import of Products of Non-Animal Origin
• Import of Food and Feed from Japan
• Import of Food Contact Materials
• Shellfish Safety Monitoring Programme

Designated Points of Entry

• Each Member State must designate points of entry for each product listed. See Designated Points of Entry into the Republic of Ireland for products subject to Regulation (EC) No. 669/2009 as amended.
• Consignments of listed products can only be imported through the Designated Point of Entry (DPE) for that particular product.
• A sufficient number of suitably qualified staff must be available at the DPE. There must be a detailed procedure for sampling and analysis and a designated laboratory to carry out the analysis required.
• Facilities must be provided at the DPE to allow the required official controls to take place including a sheltered place for unloading and suitable and sufficient equipment for unloading, sampling and storage.

Official Controls at the DPE

• Documentary checks will be carried out by the relevant competent authority within two working days unless exceptional or unavoidable circumstances arise.
• Identity and physical checks including, at least, sampling and analysis will be carried out by the relevant competent authority at the frequency set out in Annex I for the particular product being imported. The results of the physical checks will be made available as soon as technically possible.
• When the checks have been carried out, the competent authority will complete, sign and stamp Part II of the CED. The competent authority will make and keep a copy of the signed and stamped document.
• The original document will accompany the consignment to its point of destination.
• The competent authority at the DPE may, in exceptional circumstances, authorise the onward transportation of the consignment before the results of the physical check are available. Pending receipt of the results of the physical checks, the consignment must remain under continuous control of the competent authorities and cannot be tampered with. As this Regulation concerns products where there is known or emerging risk the competent authority will, as a rule, control the product at the DPE. A certified copy of the original CED must be issued for this purpose.
• In such exceptional circumstances where there is reason to authorise the onward transportation of a consignment, arrangements will be made by the competent authority to ensure that the consignment remains under its continuous control and cannot be tampered with. The competent authority will also need to make arrangements with Revenue’s Customs Service to ensure that any such movement will not interfere with customs controls and that any potential duties payable are secured. A certified copy of the original CED must be issued to accompany the consignment.
• Consignments can only be released when a completed CED or its electronic equivalent is presented to the customs authorities. The document cannot be completed until all the required controls have been carried out and the results of the physical checks, if such checks were required, are satisfactory.
  

Last reviewed: 21/1/2010